Amalgam mixing machine



Jan. 11, 1944. H E. MELTZER 2,339,092

AMALGAM MIXING MACHINE Filed Dec. 13, 1941 Maxam.,

/' INVENTOR HENRY E MELTZER '11,1111' alv Z3 ATTORNEYS Patented Jan. 11,1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE AMALGAM MIXING MACHINE Henry E.Meltzer, Racine, Wis. Application December 13, 1941, Serial No. 422,825

2 Claims.

This invention appertains to mixing and agitating devices, and moreparticularly to a novel `amalgam mixing machine.

In mixing amalgam for the filling of tooth cavities, it is highlyessential that the mercury and silver be thoroughly unionized. Otherwisethe proper plastic mix will not be had, and a poor filling will result.

It has heretofore been proposed to vibrate a capsule containing a balland the desired quantity of mercury and silver. The function of the ballis to strike the mercury and silver to bring about the triturationthereof. Actually, however, the round face of the ball allows the freeflowing mercury to ride up around the curved face thereof, resulting inpoor unionization, and often the mercury creeps past the ball due to theslight (if any) engagement of the ball with the inner face of thecapsule.

riherefore, one of the primary objects of my invention is to provide acapsule having an elongated cylindrical hammer slidably mounted thereinand snugly engaging the walls thereof, whereby the desired blows will begiven the mercury and silver, due to the rapid reciprocation of thecapsule, so that the proper amalgamation will take place without dangerof the mercury separating from the silver or creeping past the hammer.

Another salient object of my invention is to provide an amalgam mixingmachine embodying a capsule and a cylindrical hammer having its strikingface provided with a depression or cavity, whereby the mercury andsilver will be effectively crowded into a confined space and therebythore oughly mixed to bring about the unioniration thereof, the cavityforming a scraping edge about the lower end of the hammer for removingparticles of mercury and silver from the sides of the capsule.

A further important object oi my invention is the provision of a novelspring clamp for receiving the capsule, whereby the capsule wil1 beresiliently mounted on the machine, and whereby the capsule can bequickly removed from and associated with the machine.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a clamp fordetachably supporting the capsule having spring arms provided with seatsin which the ends of the capsule lare adapted to fit, the spring armsfunctioning not only to hold the capsule on the machine, but to hold thesections of the capsule in correct tclescopiitg position againstaccidental displacement.

With these and other objects in View, the invention consists in thenovel construction. arrangement, and formation of parts, as will behereinafter more specifically described, claimed, and illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which drawing:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an amalgam mixingmachine showing my invention incorporated therewith, parts of the viewbeing shown broken away and in section to illustrate structural detail.

`Figure 2 is a fragmentary, top, plan view of the amalgam mixingmachine, showing my invention incorporated therewith.

Figure 3 is an enlarged, detail, longitudinal,

- sectional View through the capsule, showing the hammer in a raisedposition, parts of the hammer being shown broken away and in section.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3, but show ing the hammer in itslowered striking position.

Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view through the capsule, taken onthe line 5-5 of Figure 3, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Referring to the drawing in detail, wherein similar reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts throughout the several views, the letter Agenerally indicates an amalgam mixing machine of the vibrating type, andthe same includes a casing Il) and a Vibrating rod II. This rod extendsthrough a slot I2 formed in the top wall of the casing. Any preferredmeans can be utilized for actuating the rod, and this operating means ishoused within the casing I0.

The upper end of the operating rod II has formed thereon a substantiallyright-angularly extending arm I3, and this arm has secured thereto theresilient clamp I4 for detachably receiving the capsule I5.

The clamp I4 is preferably formed from spring steel and is of asubstantially U-shape in side elevation and includes diverging resilientarms I6 and I1 and a connecting bight portion I8. The arm I3 of the rodII is rigidly secured to the central portion of the bight I8. The springarms I6 and I1 adjacent their forward ends are provided with struck-outseats I9 for receiving the ends of the capsule I5. The extreme outerends of the arms I6 and I'I forwardly of the seats I9 can be providedwith outturned arcuate lips 29 for facilitating the guiding of the endsof the capsule between the spring arms and into the seats I9.

The capsule I5 can be of any preferred character or size and includestelescoping companion half-sections 2| and 22 for receiving the arna1-gam mix 23 and the hammer 24.

rIhe hammer 2d forms an important feature of the invention and includesan elongated cylindrical body having a lower substantially at face 25.This ilat face 25 is provided with a recess or cavity 26, and the sidewalls of the cavity terminate close to the lower peripheral edge of thehammer, for a purpose which will be later set forth.

The outer diameter of the elongated cylindrical hammer 24 issubstantially equal to the interior diameter of the capsule, so that thehammer will have snug sliding contact with the inner wall of saidcapsule. The upper end of the hammer 24 can be rounded, if so desired,so as to conform to the configuration of the upper end wall of thecapsule.

In use of my device, the desired quantity of the amalgam mix 23 isplaced within the capsule, after which the hammer 24 is slid in thecapsule on top of the mix, with the striking end of the hammer facingthe mix. The sections of the capsule 2i and 22 are now placed together,and the capsule is slid between the arms IS and IT ci, the clamp i4until the ends of the capsule are received within the seats I9.

The machine can now be set in operation for vibrating the capsule, andthe hammer 24 will be given a reciprocatory motion, so that the strikingend thereof will be rapidly brought into striking contact with theamalgam mix. On each blow of the hammer, the amalgam mix will be crowdedinto the depression or cavity 26 of the hammer, and, consequently, themix will be quickly and expeditiously unionized to bring about themaking of the proper plastic mass. Due to the cavity o1' depression 2B,the mercury does not tend to separate from the silver and cannot creeppast the hammer, and, Consequently, the desired unionization of theamalgam mix is assured. Due to the cavity, a scraping lower peripheraledge is formed around the bottom of the hammer, and this edge scrapesoff particles of mercury and silver from the sides of the capsule duringthe reciprocation of the hammer. After the mix is amalgamated, thecapsule can be quickly removed from the clamp.

Due to the fact that the spring arms engage the ends of the capsule, thesections of the capsule are firmly held in their telescoping operativeposition during the rapid vibration of the clamp.

While I have referred to the amalgam mix as being mercury and silver, itis to be understood that this is merely by way of example, and thatother metals can be used with the mercury.

Changes in details may be made without departing from the spirit andscope of my claims, and what I claim as new is:

1. In an amalgam mixing machine, a capsule for receiving the amalgammix, and an elongated cylindrical hammer slidably mounted in saidcapsule having its outer surface snugly engaging the inner face of thecapsule, said hammer having a lower substantially iiat striking face,said striking face being provided with a cavity into which the mix iscrowded during the reciprccation of said hammer.

2. In an amalgam mixing machine, a capsule for receiving the amalgammix, and an elongated cylindrical striking hammer slidably mounted insaid capsule having a lower substantially flat striking face, saidstriking face being provided with a cavity, the walls of which terminateadjacent the lower peripheral edge of said hammer.

